A I knew the former owner; I was her son's nanny. When she left the shop, I came on.

Q What qualifications do you have?

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A At SUNY Albany I had majored in fine arts with a graphic design minor, so the design work done in Paper Dolls was interesting to me. I did drawing and painting in college, but now I am working with paper. This turned into my dream job. I absolutely fell in love with the boutique and the projects.

Q What design work do you do at Paper Dolls?

A We help clients create anything on paper: birth announcements, birthday cards, wedding invitations, programs, place cards, menus. We have design books with work that's traditional, and we also do custom projects. Paper Dolls offers three kinds of printing possibilities: thermography, letterpress and flat print. We do the projects' design top to bottom. Graphic design is a very big part of the wedding industry now. It's neat working in this. I also do the window displays, where I get to use the hands-on aspect of my art. I made the white ruffled dress in the window. People ask if it's for sale before they notice it's paper.

Q What's the most satisfying part of your work?

A I thoroughly enjoy the custom jobs. They are my favorite, making exactly what the customers are envisioning. I also like learning about the business of running a store. And when clients come in, see their projects and say, "That's wonderful!" that's the most satisfying.

Q What else are you passionate about?

A I love animals. I have a dog and a rabbit right now, and I volunteer in shelters whenever I can. I've rescued animals since I was little, and I am a big proponent of dog adoption. When my family and friends want dogs, I act as a kind of matchmaker to find them the right pets.